What Are Sattvic Foods?

The earliest yogic philosophy suggested that an ethical, plant-based diet supports the ethic of “sattva” which is a state of love, awareness, connection, and peace with all sentient beings. The basis for sattva is the concept of Ahimsa. If you read Ahimsa−Defined, you know this refers to a lifestyle free of violence or harm to any living creature.

Part of that Ahimsa ethic involves compassionate food choices, as you may have learned perusing Ahimsa & Your Diet. Examples of “Ahimsa dining” include vegan, vegetarian, and fully plant-based diets, all of which exclude meat, poultry, and seafood. Instead, they consist of healthy, clean, nourishing choices such as fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Eating along Ahimsa lines is not only ethical; it is also responsible, as it’s the healthiest approach to dining for personal and planetary health, according to our best science. As one study noted, “Consumers should obtain their nutrients, antioxidants, bioactive compounds, and phytochemicals from a balanced diet with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other plant foods for optimal nutrition, health, and well-being.”

There is abundant research attesting to the wellness benefits of a plant-centered or “Sattvic” menu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and many other agencies in the U.S. and abroad, a diet based in fresh, whole plant foods offers the best overall disease prevention across the board.